NDP Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) was looking for clearer answers from government today regarding what the fallout will be from the drastically revised provincial budget picture announced by the finance minister this morning.

The pension plan agreement announced today by government and public service unions reflects a lot of hard work from people on both sides, says MHA George Murphy (St. John’s East) and all concerned should be commended for the work they put in on the deal.

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) says the current Finance minister’s willingness to entertain a proposal to open a casino in the province not only flies in the face of past government policy, it raises concerns about the existing treatment options for people with gambling addictions.

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) says government should have been more transparent about an audit it is paying $700,000 for – and it should not have sloughed off as “housekeeping” legislation currently under debate that may affect this audit.

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) says government has apparently forgotten its promise to help people addicted to gambling on Video Lottery Terminals. The machines turn huge profits for both bar owners and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, which is owned by the governments of the four Atlantic provinces.

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi) says the Auditor General’s report reflects a government that has not taken its responsibilities seriously. Michael points out that several of the cases highlighted by the AG are long-standing problems, and substantive action should have been taken on them years ago.